§ 5. Mr. Ewingasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office Board to change the rules on relations of staff with the Press.
§ Mr. ChatawayNo, Sir. A direction would not be appropriate. It is essentially a management matter for the Post Office.
§ Mr. EwingDoes not the Minister accept that in view of the changed status of the Post Office the time is now ripe to extend to its employees the freedom to write to the Press about the Post Office, which is a freedom enjoyed by employees in other industries?
§ Mr. ChatawayThis is a matter for the Post Office. I understand that it is reviewing its rules on matters such as this, in consultation with the unions.
§ Mr. William PriceDoes the Minister agree that the main problem with the Post Office is that it appears to have no relations with the Press?
§ Mr. ChatawayThe Question referred not to relations between the Press and the Post Office as a body but to relations between Post Office employees and newspapers.